Device for straightening metal strips.



M. M. BEEMAN. DEVICE FOR STRAIGHTENING METAL STRIPS.

Patented July 30, 1912.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1908.

W M m m COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 00., WASHINGTON. D- C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARCUS IVE. BEEMAN, 0F MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPIRELLA COMPANY, OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR STRAIGHT ENING METAL STRIPS.

ening that class of stays composed of wire formed into a succession of loops to produce a flexible flat fabric or strip of uniform Width which is afterward cut into various :engths to serve as stays. It has been found that the wire strip thus produced tends to.

assume a twisted and edgewise curved or coiled condition and must be straightened before it is capable of being used for the purpose stated. I contemplate taking the twist out of the strip by the employment of a specially constructed tool forming the subject-matter of a separate application.

The present invention relates to a device designed to operate on the wire strip after it has been untwisted and whereby the edgewise or transverse curvature of the strip is removed, and the strip straightened and rendered eflicient for the required purpose.

The invention comprises the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of the tool embodying the invention and showing a wire strip of well known form being operated on for the purpose stated, Fig. 2 is a side view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line XX on Fig. 1.

The tool comprises a metal bed-plate 1 designed to be secured flatwise by means of screws 2, 2 to a suitable support A indicated 3y dotted lines in Fig. 2. This plate const-itutes a supporting-bed over which the wire strip B is drawn flatwise in the operation of straightening the same. The straightening is effected by means of gages projecting from the top face of the bedplate and arranged to bear on opposite edges of the strip in its transit over the bed plate. In practice it has been found that the best Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 30, 1908.

Patented J uly 30, 1912.

Serial No. 465,137.

. results are obtained by employing three gages which consist preferably of rollers 3, 3, 3 journaled respectively on parallel stubshafts 4t, 4:, i which are shown as tap-bolts provided with slotted heads, between which heads and plate the rollers are confined. The respective rollers are formed with collars 5, 5, 5 overhanging the upper face of the strip B and serving as guards to retain the strip in contact with the rollers and supporting bed. rollers 3,-'3 are screwed into the plate 1, as indicated at 6, 6, Fig. 8. The roller 3 is located intermediate the rollers 3, 3 and has its journal screwed at 6* into a movable block 7 whereby the roller 3 can be adjusted in relation to the rollers 3, 3 to accommodate strips of different widths and to cause the rollers to exert greater or less pressure on the edges of the strip according to the degree of curvature in said strip. To effect this adjustment of the roller 3 theblock 7 is mounted to slide in a guide extending midway between the rollers 3, 3. This guide consists preferably of a slot 8 provided in the plate and arranged at right angles to the line of travel of the strip. The block 7 is moved and sustained by a screw 9 parallel with the shaft and working in a threaded bore 10 in the block which acts as a nut so that it is made to slide in said slot when the screw is turned. The screw passes through unthreaded holes in lugs 11, 12 formed on the lower face of the plate 1 at opposite sides thereof, and is held against cndwise movement by providing its opposite ends with a head 13 and nut 14; hearing against the respective lugs 11, 12. The nut 14 may be locked to the screw by means of a transverse pin 15 or any other suitable means which permits its removal, and it is preferably formed with a knurled portion to facilitate turning the screw.

It is evident that by drawing the strip through the described tool with proper adjustment of the roller or gage 3 the cooperating rollers exert opposed forces on the two edges of the strip whereby the strip is entirely relieved of edgewise curvature.

hat I claim is: 1. A tool for straightening metal strips comprising a bed-plate provided with a transverse guide, a block movable in said guide, an cndwise immovable screw extending across the bed-plate on its lower surface The journals t, t of the and engaging said block to adjust thesame in said guide, two rollers journaled on vertical axes on the bed-plate on opposite sides of the guide, and a third roller journaled on a vertical axis on said block, said rollers being provided on their upper ends with collars overhanging the strip and being independently and freely rotatable and operated by the strip drawn in contact therewith."

2. A tool for straightening metal. strips comprising a slotted bed-plate over which the strip is to be drawn, a block longitudinally adjustable in the slot, two rollers j ournaled at opposite sides of the slot and adapted to bear on one edge of the strip in transit, a third roller journaled upon the block and adapted to bear on the opposite edge of the strip, the three rollers being independently rotatable and operated by the strip drawn in contact therewith, and collars on the upper ends of said rollers overhanging the strip.

3. A tool for straightening metal strips comprising a bed-plate over which the strip the outer side of the other lug and operative for actuating the screw to adjust the aforesaid block, a pair of rollers supported on the bed-plate at opposite sides of the slot and adapted to bear on one edge of the strip in transit, and a third roller mounted on the block and adapted to bear on the opposite edge of the strip, the rollers being independently rotatable and operated by the strip drawn in contact therewith.

4:. A tool for straightening metal strips comprising a transversely slotted bed-plate, a block longitudinally adjustable in the slot and provided with a threaded bore extending parallel with the slot, two rollers journaled at opposite sides of the slot, at third roller journaled on said block, said rollers being independently rotatable and operated by the strip drawn in contact therewith, each of said rollers being provided with a collar arranged to overhang the upper surface of the strip to retain the latter in contact with the rollers and with the bed-plate, and a screw supported at its ends on the lower face of the bed-plate at opposite sides of the latter and provided with means for preventing endwise movement of the same and with means for turning the same, said screw working in the aforesaid block for adjusting the latter as set forth.

MARCUS M. BEEMAN.

WVit-nesses J. H. PAULES, E. A. PORTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of IE'atents, Washington, D. G. 

